If there is one subject I could spend a lot of time talking about, it would be children’s books. Maybe when I’m at a different stage in life, I will become a librarian. Until then, I’m content burning up my library card to discover new children’s books. And, truth be told, I often gravitate toward books as gifts, too. If you’re looking for new reading for littles, or gift ideas for kids in your world, read on. *I’d love your endorsements as well!
Board Book Favorites for Littles
Counting Kisses, Karen Katz
God Gave Us You, Lisa Tawn Bergren
Barnyard Dance, Sandra Boynton
Moo, Baa, La La La, Sandra Boynton
What’s Wrong Little Pookie, Sandra Boynton
Along Came You, Karona Drummand
How Many Kisses Do You Want Tonight?, Varsha Bajaj
1-2-3 Peas, Keith Baker
Jamberry, Bruce Degen
Goodnight Gorilla, Peggy Rathmann
The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats
All Creatures Great & Small, illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Favorite Baptism/First Communion Gift Books
Look & Find Bible: Gill Guile (Illustrator), B&H Editorial Staff (Editor)
Images of God for Young Children, Marie-Helene Delval and Barbara Nascimbeni
Psalms for Young Children, Marie-Helene Delval (Author), Arno (Illustrator)
You Are Special, Max Lucado
Favorite Picture Books
The Mitten, Jan Brett
Hedgie’s Surprise, Jan Brett (anything by Jan Brett)
Mountain Day, Mountain Night, Anthony D. Fredericks
Sleep Tight, Farm,Eugene Doyle
Cowpoke Clyde Rides the Range, Lori Mortensen
Cowpoke Clyde and the Dirty Dog, Lori Mortensen
The Lorax, Dr. Suess
Pete the Cat, Eric Litwin
Can You Canoe, The OkeeDokee Brothers
Whose Tail on the Trail?, Midji Stephenson
Thunder Cake, Patricia Polacco
Ernestine’s Milky Way (Great gift for a 5 year old), Kerry Madden-Lundsford
The Song and Dance Man,Karen Ackerman
Guess How Much I Love You,Sam McBratney
Up the Creek, Nicholas Oldland
This Old Band, Tamera Will Wissinger (Hilarious western story-song to the tune of This old Man).
Tiki Tiki Tembo, re-told by Arlene Mosel
Blueberries for Sal, Robert McCloskey
The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams
Berlioz the Bear, Jan Brett
Mother Bruce,Ryan T.Higgins (about a bear who accidentally adopts 4 goslings while trying to cook them)
The Gingerbread Cowboy, Janet Squires
Search & Find:
Around the Town All Year ‘Round, Rotraut Susanne
New Readers
Usborne Phonics Readers (It’s likely you already know an Usborne representative)
I Can Read Series
Bernstein Bears
The Big Blue Book of Beginners Books
Next Steps
Magic Tree House Series, Mary Pope Osborne
Junie B. Jones series, Barbara Park
Nancy Clancy series, Jane O’Connor
Amelia Bedelia, Herman Parish
Older grades 3+
American Girls collections
Roald Dahl–particularly the BFG
Romona Quimby series, Beverly Cleary
Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Boxcar Children, Gertrude Chandler Warner
Fudge/Superfudge/Fudge-a-mania, Judy Blume’s
Read Aloud stories:
Charlotte’s Webb, E.B. White
The Trumpet and the Swan, E.B. White
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, & Chronicals of Narnia, CS Lewis
Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
Christmas Stories
Who’s that Knocking on Christmas Eve?, Jan Brett
The Cobweb Christmas, Shirley Climo
Pippin the Christmas Pig, Jean Little
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Suess
Christmas Tree Ship, Carol Crane
The Elves & the Shoemaker, Tiger Tales , Erica-Jane Waters
Brigid’s Cloak, Bryce Milligan
Christmas Farm, Mary Lyn Ray
The Candymaker’s Gift, Helen Haidle
The Country Angel Christmas, Tomie de Paola
The Legend of the Poinsettia, Tomie de Paola
Cobweb Christmas, Shirley Climo